strive

strive — verb

1. to make a strong and continued effort to reach a goal, deal with a problem, or i

1.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

to make a strong and continued effort to reach a goal, deal with a problem, or improve a situation, especially when doing so is difficult or takes a long time

Example

Rania strives to improve her Mandarin by chatting with native speakers every week.

strive + to-infinitive for a personal goal

The design team at Hui's company strives for excellence in every product they launch.

strive + for + noun as an organizational goal

Common collocations
  • strive tirelessly
  • strive for perfection
  • strive to achieve
  • strive against injustice
  • continually strive
  • strive hard
  • strive for success
Synonyms
  • try

    more general and much more common; lacks the sense of sustained effort over time

  • endeavor

    more formal; commonly used in professional or official contexts

  • struggle

    emphasizes active resistance against obstacles or hardship

  • aspire

    focuses on aiming for a high goal or ambition rather than the effort itself

Antonyms
  • give up

    to stop trying, the opposite of continuing to make an effort

  • neglect

    to fail to give proper attention or effort to something

Grammar Patterns

strive + to-infinitive

strive + for + noun

strive + against + noun

Usage Note

Frequently followed by 'to' and an infinitive verb (strive to do something). The past tense can be regular ('strived') or irregular ('strove'); the past participle can be 'strived' or 'striven.' The irregular forms ('strove,' 'striven') are more common in formal writing.

Common Mistakes

She strives for become a doctor.
She strives to become a doctor.
'strive for' is followed by a noun, not a verb; use 'strive to' + infinitive for actions.
They strived hard for passing the exam.
They strove to pass the exam.
after 'strive to,' use the bare infinitive, not a gerund.

Word family

  • striving
    adjectiveB2
  • striving
    nounC1
  • striver
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words involve putting in effort, but they differ in intensity, duration, and formality. 'Try' is the most general and neutral word — you can try anything, from opening a jar to learning a language ('I will try to call you tomorrow'). 'Strive' implies a stronger, longer-lasting effort, often in the face of difficulty, which is why it is common in contexts of personal growth, social justice, or professional excellence. 'Endeavor' is more formal and suggests a serious, planned attempt, often in official or professional writing ('The organization endeavors to promote equality'). 'Struggle' adds the idea of active resistance or conflict; you struggle against something (poverty, oppression, illness), not just for a positive goal. 'Aspire' is about ambition and desire for a high outcome ('She aspires to become a professor'), but it does not say whether the person actually works hard to reach it. Use 'strive' when you want to emphasize continued hard work toward a worthwhile aim.

try ↗endeavor ↗struggle ↗aspire ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • strive to achieve
  • strive to ensure
  • strive to meet
  • strive to maintain

Prepositions

Etymology

GermanicOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Strive comes from Old French 'estrivre' meaning 'to quarrel, fight, or contend.' That word likely came from a Germanic root related to conflict or strain. Over time the meaning shifted from physical fighting to the idea of making a determined effort, especially against difficulty.